Fabe-box



E. H. THOMPSON.

FARE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4, 1916.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

4 SHEETS SHEET I.

I I I U E. H. THOMPSON.

. FARE BOX.

APPLICATION ,FILED DEC. 4, 1916.

1,364,156. Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- E. H. THOMPSON.

-FARE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4. I916.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- UNITED STATES PATENT orrice.

FARE-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4., 1921.

Application filed December 4, 1916. Serial No. 134,864.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST H. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fare-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

T his invention relates to fare boxes of the type used at pay-as-you-enter stations, or in street cars, and is intended to provide a device of this kind which shall be simple and reliable in its operation, and shall be completely adequate to the practical requirements demanded by such service.

The fare box shown is of the automatic type. That is, the coin, after being deposited, causes various operations of mechanism by which certain selecting coin depositing or excluding devices are brought into play to secure the deposit in the proper receptacle, of a genuine coin of the appropriate denomination, or to exclude slugs or coins not conforming to the standard size and thickness of the coins for which the device is intended.

Among the features characterizing the present invention, is the provision by which the deposited coin is temporarily held exposed to inspection before it is carried away by the automatic coin-transferring device to its appropriate receptacle.

Another feature of the invention consists in the employment of a preliminary automatically operated selecting device for transferring the coin from the outer receptacle in which it may be inspected, to the selectingcoin-depositing mechanism, so that only one coin at a time can be fed to the coin-depositing devices.

Another feature of the invention consists in a mechanism for causing the actuation of the preliminary selecting slide in order to remove the preceding coin from the inspection compartment to the coin-depositing and selecting devices. By the arrangement employed any number of coins may be thrown simultaneously into the coin hopper from which they will be fed one by one to the coin-transferring and registering mechanism, by the automatic operation of the machine, the value of each coin being registered or indicated as it is passed to its appropriate receptacle. The invention also consists in the construction and arrangement of various safety devices to permit the elimination of false coins or slugs, and to prevent any injury to the working mechanism by the introduction of such false coins, slugs or buttons.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the mechanism employed for handling the coin, is electrically actuated by means of an electric current, which is controlled by the coins actually deposited. The fare box is constructed with a view to containing within the same casing, an automatic change delivering mechanism, but such change mechanism is not shown in detail herein, but will be made the subject matter of another appllcation.

These and other features of the invention will be particularly explained hereinafter and will be defined in the claims hereto annexed.

in the accompanying drawings ll have illustrated the preferred mode of embodying the principles of this invention in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section showing the (Olll-IGCGlVlIlf hopper in its relation to the automatic coin-transferring and -,selecting devices.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the connection between the actuating plunger of solenoid, and the coin selecting and transferring mechanism partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a detail view in horizontal cross section showing the electrical connection in.

the preliminary circuit closing device below the hopper 011 plane 33 ofFig. 8.

Fig. 4 is a detail view in elevation showing the toggle connection between the actuating rock shaft and the coin selecting and depositing mechanism operated thereby.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of the mechanism by which the appropriate movement of the coin register is secured, to register various denominations of coin.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the complete assembled device showing the coin stacks into which the nickels and dimes are distributed, and from which they may be Figs. 16 and 17 are detail views in planes at right angles to each other illustrating the retarding mechanism controlling the movement of the coin-depositing devices.

Fig. 18 is a plan of the automatic coin selecting slide beneath the hopper.

Figs. 19, 20" and 21 are detail views showing the runways or passages for conducting the various coins to their appropriate receptacles or containers.

Fig. 22 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the different electric circuits employed in the device.

Before describing the detailed construction of the parts I will briefly explain the general nature of the operations performed by this apparatus.

It is the intention that the public paying fares shall drop their coins into the top of an open hopper, which in this case is formed with a perforated spider, the openings of which are of a size to admit nickels dimes and pennies, and to exclude larger coins. The coin falling through the apertures in the spider drops upon two opposed ledges or supports which form the separated terminals of the electric circuit of a relay magnet, which magnet acts to close the switch in the solenoid circuit for the purpose of actuating the solenoid plunger, which in turn, by suitable mechanical connections, actuates the coin-selecting depositing and registering mechanism. One of these terminals is pivoted and has mechanical connection with the automatically operated coin -transferring mechanism, to move it out of the path of the coin resting upon it, thereby allowing the coin to drop into an open funnel onto a coin-transferring slide where .the coin re mains exposed to inspection through the glass sides of the top of the fare box, until the next following coin again closes the circuit between said electric terminalsto cause the movement of the solenoid plunger, and

the consequent actuation of the coin-transmechanism passes the coin on toward its appropriate coin stack or container where it comes to rest, and at the same time the coin is registered on the coin register according to the value of each individual coin. It will be understood that the slide aforesaid, serves a two-fold function; namely, to exclude articles like buttons that can pass through the spider in the top of the coin box,bu t is too thick to be transferred by the slide, and also to permit the inspection of the coin before it is transferred to the interior of the machine, and'to insure the transfer of a single passage (1 said passage being of narrow cross section to compel the coin to fall in vertical position onto the supporting terminals or plates 12, 12, arranged in opposition to each other, and insulated as shown in Fig. 3. The supporting plate I) is mounted on a rock shaft 6 (Fig. 11) which is. normally held by a tension spring 6 so as to cause the plate 6' to project partly across the passage a to obstruct the passage of the coin.

The coin by its contact with parts I), Z), closes the circuit in the relay magnet 02, as indicated in Fig.' 22, which actuates switch y of the solenoid circuit 11 to actuate the solenoid plunger 3 The solenoid plunger is held in normally raised position by a coil spring y mounted in the surrounding casing for the purpose of actuating the coin- 105 transferring and registering mechanism.

The coin-transferring and selective mechanism embraces essentially, two vertical bars or cross heads, 0, c united at top and bottom by tie-rods 0 The front bar a 110 of the cross head frame carries three vertically' alined horizontal plungers c c c which pass through small apertures in a partition wall a of the casing. Another. wall (1 of the casing carries three vertically alined fixed bearing sleeves d 01 01 forming horizontal bearing sockets for a vertical series of plungers 0, c a which are arranged in alinement with the forward plungers a 0. 0. These plungers c, 07 0 have no positive connection with any actuating mechanism, but are pushed rearwardly by the forward plungers c c 0 respectively, acting through the medium of an interposed coin. They are also centrally bored to allow the plungers 0 c c, to telescope into them without causingthem to slide back when there, is ,no coin interposed between their forward ends and the rear ends of their c0- operating plungers, c, 0 0 respectively.

The coin falling from the slide member 0? in a manner hereinafter to be described, drops into the vertical passage behind the Wall 05 and is kept in an upright position by the diaphragm or partition 01, which has large apertures concentric with the axes of the respective plungers to freely admit the passage of a coin laterally through said partition. Between said partition a and the wall a as best shown in Fig. 10, are placed three vertically arranged sets of ledges e, e, and 0 mounted upon plates of insulation 6 6 and electrically connected with the relay magnet 00 to form the separated terminals of the circuit embracing said electro-magnet. The upper pair of ledges are spaced apart the proper distance to allow a penny or a dime to fall between them while retaining a nickel. The ledges e are spaced apart sufliciently to allow a dime to pass between them, but to retain a penny, while the ledges e are positioned to retain a dime.

A nickel falling into the vertical coin chute comes to rest upon the ledges 6 thereby closing the circuit of the electro-magnet, energizing the same and closing the switch 3 to energize the solenoid circuit y,'thus pulling down or depressing the solenoid plunger 3 which is slotted as shown in Figs. 2 and'12, to receive a forked lever or arm f which engages the cross pin 9, located in said slot by which said arm or lever is pulled down by the downward movement of the plunger, and is swung upward by the return movement of the plunger, which return movement is effected by the spiral compression spring 1 when the solenoid circuit is broken.

This actuating arm f is operatively secured to a rock shaft f by a strong clutch connection for the purpose of allowing this connectionto yield to permit the descent of the solenoid plunger 3 in the usual manner in case there is any obstruction to the normal operation of the coin-transferring mechanism due to thepresence of a slug or button of such size 'as to block temporarily the movement of the coinetransferring mechanism. This clutch connection as shown in Fig. 2, is eflected by means of one or more pawls f pivotally mounted on the lower or forward end of the arm f and normally spring pressed into engagement with notches in a disk f secured to the rock shaft The, engagement of the pawl with its notch, is sufliciently strong to operate the rock shaft and the cointransferring mechanism under normal conditions, while allowing the pawl to ride out of its engaging notch in the disk f to allow the lever f to rotate on the shaft f without rotating the shaft.

The main cross head is operatively connected'from the rearward bar 0 to the rock shaft by means of a pair of toggle levers g, g, the former being secured to the rock shaft while the latter is pivotally connected with the bar 0 so that the clock-wise rotation (Figs. 2 and 4) of the rock shaft f acts to extend the toggle lever connection and force the cross head carrying the plungers 0 0 0 rearwardly.

If there is any coin interposed between the rear end of either of the three plungers mentioned, it is pressed bodily to the rear against the forward face of the corresponding plunger 0 c or 0 as the case may be so that the coin is carried .through the funnel-shaped aperture through which said idler plungers c 0 or c slide. These funnel-shaped aperture h, h and 723, are of a diameter to barely permit the appropriate coin to pass through into the chute or runway behind said aperture. Each of these idler plungers is provided with a rearwardly projecting stem 0 which abuts against the front end of an adjustable set screw 0 secured adjustably in the bar 0 of the cross head in line with the respective extension stems 0 of the various idler plungers, so that on the return or forward movement of the cross heads, these abutting screws push against the idler plungers to restore them to their normal forward position, as shown in Fig. 1. As will be seen, there is a slight lost motion or clearance between-the two sets of plungers in excess of the thickness of the coin so that on the return movement the plungers 0 0 c are advanced a short distance before the thrust pins or screws 0 impinge against the rearwardly extending stems 0 The object of this clearance or lost motion, is to release the respective coins from the pressure between the two cooperating .sets of plungers in order that they may fall freely into the chute or passage The interior of said chute i is provided with inclined ribs 71' i and 2' forming runways or passages to allow the respective coins to roll or pass into their respective stacks or containers 2' 2' 2', so that the nickels, dimes and pennies are sorted out or distributed to their appropriate containers from which they may be removed by the automatic change maker for the purpose of delivering change. The pas-' sage or runway 'to each coin stack or receptacle is provided with an overflow aperture i i i which allows the respective coins to fall to the bottom outside of said containers, but of course inside the outer casing.

To prevent the too rapid movement at of said opening.

mechanism which checks the initial upward movement of the plunger, while allowing it gradually to accelerate. To this end, as shown in Figs. 2, 16 and 17 the downwardly extending end or side of the lever f is constructed in the form of a sector gear f intermeshing with a pinion m on an arbor m, on which is mounted a disk m yieldingly attached to the arbor by means of a coil or take up spring m which disk carries a pawl m cooperating with a ratchet wheel m that is compounded with a spur gear or pinion m that is loose on the arbor m. Through. a train of gears or pinions m m m the rotation of the pinion m is transmitted to the counter-shaft m on which is a heavy drum on. The ratchet is so arranged as to ride over the ratchet wheel without positive engagement during the downward movement of the plunger, but to engage the ratchet Wheel on the return movement of the plunger, and set theretarding mechanism into operation. This arrangement gives the desired initial retardation or check to the upward movement of the plunger, while allowing that upward movement to accelerate in order to shorten the period of its traverse, and at the same time avoids the transmission of sudden shock to the speed mechanism.

The coin-removing slide d, arranged 'at the bottom of the hopper or upper receptacle, is operatively connected with the bar 0' of the cross head, by means of an-upwardly extending arm 0, whose upper end lies in the plane of movement of the slide d, so as to push, the slide rearwardly during the rearward movement of the cross head. The slide is returned to normal position by a connecting spring 0, one end of which is secured to the arm 0, and the other end of,

which is attached to a pin on the bottom of the slide d, the object being to allow the cross head to return to normal position even if the slide be obstructed against return. The slide (l is mounted in a horizontal runway or bearing plate 0 having an aperture 0 registering with the open bottom of the hopper 0 The slide a? has a similar aperture d adapted to register with this opening 0 when the slide is in its rearmost position, but normally locked while in advance The slide should not exceed in thickness the thickness of a nickel, which is the largest coin to be fed int'b the machine according to the present design Consequently if any small object, such as a button is dropped into the hopper, it will on account of its extra thickness, block or prevent the normal movement of the slide without breaking any parts or interfering with the normal movement of the cross head.

For the purpose of removing such a foreign article blocking the slide, I provide emma 0 adapted to be engaged by a push rod- 0 that can be operated from the outside of the machine to open the trap door and allow the button or other article to drop down outside of the coin-chute so as not to record on the register thereby clearing the slide for the performance of its normal functions.

The means fordropping the pivoted contact plate 5' to allow the coin to fall in the hopper, is best shown in Figs. 1, 8, 9 and 11. On the slide d as shown in Fig. l is located a pin or lug 6 adapted to engage the downwardly extending arm of an angle lever 12 whose horizontal branch engages a vertical slide rod 6 arrangedto thrust upward against the arm 72 on the rock-shaft 5 which carries a crank arm 7) having a projecting pin b of insulating material adapted to engage a protecting arm 6 of the separate shaft 6 so as to move the pivoted coin retaining member 7) against the tension of thespring b to allow the'coin to drop, while permitting the member 6' to resume its normal position when-the actuating rod 6 drops. The pin 6 is located so as to act during the latter part of the coin transferring stroke of the cross head, so that before the coin retained by the member I) has time to fall to the bottom of the hopper, the slide d will have returned to normal position thereby leaving the fallen coin at rest on top of the slide (Z. It will be noticed that the able or appropriate construction forming no part of the present invention, but which is designed to register from the right, each step or number on the righthand wheel or disk thereof, indicating one penny. the

periphery of the wheel being graduated into ten consecutively numbered sub-divisions, so that the rotation thereof by a single step, indicates one penny on the register, the rotation thereof five steps, indicates five pennies, or a nickel, and the complete rotation thereof, indicates orcounts a dime or ten cents on the register.

I will now explain the automatic connections between the coin-transferring mechanism and the register by which each coin passed into the machineis correctly indicated on the register, 20, it being understood that each coin actuated plunger stem 0 sets in operation a different train of operating mechanism for properly shifting the register by means of independently movable levers r r and 7* which are respectively actuated by pin and slot connections with said respective plunger stems as shown in Figs. 1 and 14.

Referring first to .the mechanism for actuating the register when a nickel is deposited. On the rear face of the wall a is a rearwardly extending flange, plate or rib a, in which is mounted a rock shaft 1" having secured at one end an actuating lever r and at the other end an arm or lever r in the form of a sector gear, which intermeshes with a pinion r loosely mounted on a hollow arbor r said pinion r carries a spring pressed pawl 1", which projects into the open end of a hollow drum 0", which is provided with four equally spaced notches 1" about its periphery, toward which notches the pawl r is pressed by its spring, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The pawl r is intended to act as a ratchet against the notches r so as to positively rotate the drum 1" when the pinion r is moved in a clock-wise direction (Fig. 5), and to ride over the notches when the pinion r is rotated in a contra-,clock-wise direction. A safety catch 1, mounted outside of the drum serves to yieldingly engage the notches r so as to hold the drum 7" at rest in proper resting position. It serves the purpose of a safety detent to prevent the drum from frictionally assuming an incorrect position by reason of the frictional pressure of the pawl r during its rotation.

The hollow drum 1" is secured to the arbor r on the end of which is a ratchet wheel 1 engaging a ratchet pawl 7", which is pivotally mounted on the pinion T which idles on the hollow arbor a which leads to and actuates the registei p. linion r meshes.

with a pinion r on a counter-shaft which carries a train of gearing 1 This train of gearing actuates the numbering register or counter (Figs. 12 and 18) according to the extent of rotation of the ratchet wheel 1". The nickel actuated registering mechanism already described, is so proportioned that the movement of the cross head 0 acts to rotate the drum 1' one-quarter turn, corresponding. for example, to five teeth of the ratchet wheel 1 which has twenty teeth in all. This movement produces just one-half revolution of the right-hand disk of the counter equal to five sub-divisions thereof so as to register five cents.

To prevent accidental dislocation of the mechanism from proper registering position I form the face of the pinion r with a circular series of 10 recesses or apertures r adapted to receive a locking bolt r which is normally held out of engagement by a tension spring 9* but which is forced into locking engagement with said pinion 7" by means of a cam block or collar r located on the upper tie bar 0? of the main cross head as illustrated in Fig. 15 so that on the return or forward movement of the main actuating cross head the lock bolt is forced into lock ing engagement to prevent accidental rotation of the register controlling mechanism. The engaging end of the bolt r is preferably tapered to facilitate such locking engagement.

The mechanism for registering a dime is similar to that already described for registering a nickel except that the parts are so proportioned as to cause a half revolution of the drum r instead of a quarter revolution, so as to impart a half revolution equal to ten teeth of the ratchet wheel 1 The dime actuated mechanism embraces a lever r pivoted in the su port a intermediate of its ends and terminating in a sector gear 1 which engages a pinion r on which is mounted a pivotal pawl r to engage the transverse notches 1' in the periphery of the drum 1".

The mechanism actuated by the penny acts directly on the central arbor or shaft 7 onthe driven end of which is secured a small pinion r actuated by a lever or arm 1" carrying a short sector gear r At the opposite end of the solid arbor gear r is secured a ratchet wheel 7 adapted to engage a pawl r mounted on the wheel or pinion 7' which operates the register through engagement with the pinion r The parts in this train of mechanism are so proportioned that on each complete traverse of the cross head the pinion or wheel 9* is rotated one tooth, thereby turning the units disk of the register one degree or step corresponding to one cent. As thus far described the entire handling of the coin and actuating of the mechanism for the normal operation of the machine is accomplished by automaticallyoperated mechanism controlled orset in motion by the circuit closing action of the coin but it will be perceived as the last coin deposited will remain in the hopper a resting upon the slide (Z. In order to empty the hopper and transfer the coin to its proper-destination T have made provision for closing the circuit manually by means of a circuit-closing plunger or rod 8 which, upon being pressed by the conductor, closes the circuit between the terminals t 25, thus having the same effect as when the same circuit is closed through the automatic-circuit closing members I) b.

It will be understood that any convenient arrangement of electric wiring for the cirferent cuits maybe adopted. I have shown, however, in Fig. 9 the removable top or head of the machine provided with tw'o contact pins .2? t which fit into corresponding sockets in the top ofthemain body or casing of the machine, which sockets are insulated from each other and are electrically connected with the spectively, with the interrupted terminals b b to form an electrical connection through said sockets with the electromagnet m.

It will be seen then that the device comprises, generally speaking, a receiving hopper into which variousdenominations of coin are to be thrown, suitable selective transferring coin mechanism operatively connected with the adding register by diftrains of medhanism actuated through the agency of the individual coin transfer, and a feed device for feeding the coins, one by one, from the hopper to the selective transfer mechanism from which the adding register is appropriately actuated and the preliminary feeding device and the preliminary feed device are automatically set in operation through the medium of the coins deposited.

The operation is as follows: The coins thrown into the hopper pass between the terminals Z2 6' into the bottom of the hopperv above the slide d, each coin remaining exposed to inspection through the glass sides of the hopper or case until the next coin dropped in closes the circuit between the terminals b 6, thereby causing the slide d to feed a single coin into the body of the selective chute in which are mounted the graduated ledges e, e, 6 The coin resting on either pair of ledges again closes the circuit of the relay magnet 00 by Whose agency the solenoid circuit is energized to actuate the plunger and the coin transfer cross head (:0- operating mechanism. If any coin deposited is'too large to pass through the selective orifice adjacent to its actuating plunger it is held on the front edge of said orifice, thereby blocking the further rearward movement of its push rod or plunger while the solenoid plunger continues its descent which is permitted by the yielding operative connection between said plunger and the cross head. The plunger thus continues its downward stroke, opens the circuit-closing switch, previouslyclosed by the relay magnet, and is then returned upward to normal position by means of its tension spring. On this return movement the coin to be excluded is disengaged from the pressure of the push rod forcing 1t against the edge of the selec-' making its completestroke its movement is insufficient to register through the trains of mechanism leading to the adding register.

If, however, the? coin is of the proper size to pass through the selective orifice the main actuating cross head is moved to its full extent, thereby conducting the coin behind the perforated partition from which it passes to its storage receptacle. In this case the full traverse of the plunger cross head being permitted the appropriate train of mechanism leading to the adding register is actuated on the return stroke to give said register the properamount of rotation.

From a consideration of the above-described mechanism, it will be seen that complete provision has been made for excluding coins of larger diameter or of'larger thick ness than the largest coin to be accepted by the machine through the medium of the width gaging spider a and the thickness gaging remove slide d. Furthermore, the clogging of the machine by any irregular sized coins below the size of the largest acceptable coin is completely prevented, while perfect provision is made for the separation of such irregular or intermediate sized coins without operating the registering mechanism. The machine is automatic throughout its normal operation, requires no selection on the part of the passenger depositing the fare since all coinsare dropped into a common hopper or receptacle, and requires no manipulation on the part of the conducter except in the single emergency when Coins of irregular or unacceptable size that are not excluded by the gaging slide and the gaging spider are handled by the machine automatically without clogging or injuring the machine, while coins of acceptable size, in this case, dimes, nickels and pennies, are distributed to their appropriate pockets and are duly registered by the registering mechanism after such distribution since the registering mechanism operates only on the return movement of the solenoid plunger and cross-head. Except for the removal of too thick a coin after once admitted, the mechanism is entirely out of the control of the conductor or fare depositor, and is completely controlled by the coins admitted to the machine.

Moreover, with this arrangement a handful of nickels, dimes and pennies interminf gled with coins of both larger and smaller sizes and of intervening sizes might be dropped on top of the gaging spider at once and every coin would be automatically disposed of by the machine, the regular or 1. In an automatic fare box the combination with a coin-receiving hopper, of a coin feeding-out device for removing the coins singly from said hopper, selective cointransferring devices by which the coins removed from the hopperare conducted to their respective places of storage, both the coin feeding-out device and the coin-transferring devices being automatically set in operation by the agency of a deposited coin before said coin enters the hopper and beingagain set in operation by the'agency of a coin after it has been removed from said hopper, substantially as described.

the coin transferring devices being automatically set .in operation through the agency of the coins, an adding register op eratively connected with said coin transferring mechanism to register the value of the coins after they have been transferred by said mechanism.

3. An automatic fare box embracing in combination a coin-receiving hopper, a se-. lective chute, means for automatically feeding coins oneat a time from said hopper to said chute, transferring devices for removing coins of various size from the chute to their appropriate places of storage through different passages, electrically operative means set in operation by the agency of the coin after the coin has been automatically removed from the hopper, substantially as described.

4. An automatic fare box embracing in its construction a coin receiving hopper, a selective coin chute, means for automatically feeding the coins singly from the hopper to said chute, transferring devices for moving various sizes of coins from the chute to their place of storage through different passages,

electrically operated means set in operation by the agency of the coin for actuating said feeding and transferring devices, and an adding register operatively connected, with said coin transferring mechanism to register the value of the coins after they have been transferred.

5. An automatic fare box embracing in combination a casing including a coin-receiving hopper constructed to permit inspection of coins in the bottom thereof, a selective coin chute and a storage receptacle, means for automatically feeding the coins out of the hopperj into the chute and means for transferring the coins from the chute to the storage receptacle, an electrically actuated coin-retaining detent arranged to.

temporarily prevent the deposited coin from entering said hopper, said detent being released automatically through electrically operated means which actuate the coin-feeding and the coin-transferring devices, substantially as described.

6. An automatic fare box embracing in its construction a coin-transferring device, a receiving hopper,,a selective coin chute and a coin-carrying slide for feeding the coin from'the hopper to said chute said slide being actuated by means of a solenoid whose controlling circuit is closed through the electrical contact of the coin with its separated terminals before the coin enters said hopper, and a supplemental controlling circuit whose separate terminals are closed by electrical contact with the coin after it is removed from said hopper, substantially as described.

7. In an automatic fare box-the combination of a common hopper for receiving coins of different predetermined denominations, provided with a gaging intake for excluding coins of greater diameter than the largest acceptable coin, a coin removing member for removing the coins singly from the hopper to a selective and separating chute, while excluding coins of excessive thickness, and an electrically operated transfer mechanism for transferring the acceptable coins from their appropriate positions in said chute to their appropriate receptacles, said electrically operated mechanism being automatically energized by the coins, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a coin receiving hopper, a coin containing carrier located at the bottom of said hopper in position to support a coin there, means for actuating said carrier to remove the coin from the hopper, a pair of cooperating members arranged to momentarily engage and support the coin in said hopper, said coin engaging members forming separate terminals of an electric circuit that is closed by the interposed coin to cause the actuating mechanism to operate said carrier and to move one of the engaging members from supporting contact with the coin to allow the coin to fall upon said carrier.

9. In a coin box the combination with a through the aperture on said partition, said electrically operated means being actuated by an electric current that l is energized through the agency of the deposited coin, substantially as described.

10. In an automatic coin box the combination of a hopper for receiving coins of different denominations, a coin removing member automatically operated by a coin entering the hopper to remove a coin from and transfer it to its appropriate receptacle,

said transferring mechanism being automatically operated through the agency of an electric circuit passing through said terminals, substantially as described.

11. In a fare box the combination of a common coin receiving hopper for coins of predetermined denominations, a coin removing member for removing coins singly from said hopper to a coin selective chute, coin transferring mechanism for transferring different denominations of coin from said selective chute to their appropriate receptacles, electrically operated means set in action by the deposited coin for operating said transferring mechanism and said coin removing mechanism, and'a registering mechanism automatically operated by the return movement .of said coin transferring mechanism, substantially as described.

12. In a fare box the combination of a coin receiving hopper for coins of different denominations, means for removing coins from said hopper to a selective chute, coin transferring gaging mechanism for removing coins of acceptable size from said coin chute to their appropriate coin pockets and for removing from said chute and excluding from said pockets coins of unacceptable size, a registering mechanism operated by the coin transferring mechanism after it has transferred any acceptable coin to its ap propriate receptacleT substantially as described.

13. In fare boxes the combination with a selective coin separating coin chute, a series of transferring devices arranged to transfer coins from their appropriate location in said coin chute to appropriate receptacles, a coin receiving hopper for different denominations of coins, a coin removing member operatively connected with said coin transferring mechanism and arranged to remove the coin from the receptacle on 'the return movement of saidcoin transferring mechanism, substantially as described.

14. In a fare box the combination of an interior selective coin chute, a plurality of selective coin transfer devices appropriate to different denominations of coin, actuating mesa-see mechanism for said coin transfer devices constructed to be set in operatlon by the I agency of the appropriate coin in said coin chute, said actuating mechanism being operatively connected with said coin transferring mechanism by the interconnecting devices normally acting to transmit motion from said actuating mechanism to said transfer mechanism, said connection being operatively interrupted to permit movement of the actuating mechanism when a coin of improper size blocks the movement of the transferring mechanism, substantially as described.

15. In a fare box the combination of a selective coin chute or passage, coin tIL1'1SIE81'- ring mechanism for moving different denominations of coin through said chute, a solenoid plunger operatively connected with said transferring mechanism to actuate the same through the agency of a deposited coin, and means permitting the release of the operative connection between the solenoid and the transferring mechanism when the movement of the transferring mechanism is blocked by a coin of improper size.

16. In a fare box the combination of a selective coin chute, a reciprocatory frame provided with a series of push rods to engage different sizes of different coins in different locations in said chute, a series of corresponding co-acting plungers passing through the selective orifices to engage and assist in transferring the respective coins, an electrically actuated plunger, a pivoted arm forming an operative connection between said plunger and the coin transferring mechanism, said arm being operatively interconnected with the coin transferring devices an operative connection which allows sald arm to be moved by the plunger when the movement of the coin transferring devices.

is obstructed, substantially as described.

17. In a fare box thecombination of a coin chute, coin transferring mechanism for transferring coins of various sizes to a storage receptacle, an electrically operated ac tuating member operatively connected with said coin transferring mechanism, means for returning said actuating member to normal position-when its operatlng circuit is broken, and a retarding device for retardlng the return movement of said actuating member in order to ive time to release the coin from the trans erring mechanism, substantially as described.

18. In a fare box the combination of a coin transferring mechanism embracing positively actuated and separate idle members which between the coin transferred 1s pinched, a solenoid actuated plunger operamechanism, means for deenergizing sai solenoid when said plunger has completed its traverse, a tension spring for returning said solenoid plunger to normal position, and a speed retarding mechanism for delaying the initial return movement of said plunger, substantially as described.

19. In a fare box the combination of a hopper for receiving coins of different denomination, a movable coin containing carrier for feeding coins from said hopper to a selective coin chute for distribution, said coin slide being normally out of position to receive the coin in the hopper, an actuating mechanism for moving said carrier into coin receiving position and for returning said carrier to its normal position whence it delivers the coin to said coin chute, substantially as described.

20. In a fare boX the combination of a coin chute, of a series of coin transferring devices for coins of different denominations, an adding register, and independent trains of connecting mechanism for operatively connecting each individual coin transferring device on its return stroke with said register in order to register and add the value of the different COlIlS transferred, substantially as described.

21. In a fare box the combination of a plurality of coin transferring devices for transferring coins of different denominations to a storage receptacle, a series of independently mounted levers engaged by the respective coin transferring devices, an adding register, and differential trains of gearing interconnecting the respective levers with said register to o erate said register according to the value 0 the respective coins transferred on the return stroke of said transfer mechanism, substantially as described.

22. In a fare box the combination of an adding register provided with a driving pinion, a series of actuating levers each of which is operatively connected with said driving pinion by a pawl-carrying wheel, a series of differentially actuated ratchet wheels operatively connected with said actuating levers to rotate said pawl-carrying wheel through different arcs of its circumference in order to secure a differential rotation of said register, substantially as described.

23. In a fare box the combination of a selective coin chute and cooperating coin. transferring devices, of a receiving hopper, a coin delivering device for delivering the said coins from said hopper to said feed chute one at a time actuated by a coin controlled electric circuit, and externally operated means for freeing said coin delivering member from a deposited piece of greater thickness than the coins which said member is intended to deliver, substantially as described.

24. In a fare box the combination of an inclosing casing, and inclosed receiving hopper superimposed thereon, a coin containing carrier located at the bottom of the ho per to receive the coins deposited, a pair 0 cooperating coin engaging members supported above the bottom of said hopper in position to engage each coin dropped therein, said coin engaging members being electrically connected with actuating mechanism to cause said actuating mechanism to operate said coin carrier when a deposited coin is in contact with both engaging members, substantially as described.

25. In a fare box the combination with a coin chute for receiving the coin deposited, automatically-operated selective coin-transferring mechanism, an adding counter, actuating mechanism connecting the cointransferring mechanism operatively' with said counter embracing dlfi'erentially rotated clutch actuated pinions and means ac-'\ tuated by the transferring mechanism to accurately set and lock the counter actuating mechanism in its different operative positions, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have subscribed the above specification.

ERNEST H. THOMPSON. 

